Lady Walburga Black was not a woman to be reckoned with. Just like her screaming portrait back home, she was very elegant and regal in her mannerisms, and stood with her back perfectly vertical to the floor. Obsidian hair swept up neatly under a quail hat, she held tight to Hermione's arm as they glided into the ballroom. Despite the amount of people already moving about, Hermione had a hard time feeling comfortable among them. They were all in fanciful dress cloaks and masks, and a small orchestra played in the corner as Walburga guided her about the room, happy to show her off,
"Oh! Let me introduce Emma Louise!" She would cry out to any young man or couple she set eyes on. Turning and glaring at Regulus who was padding some distance behind, he was snickering at her from under his mask. Leaning backwards slightly as Walburga chatted happily with a young man and woman before her, Hermione addressed him,
"Who does your mother think I am?" She snarled quietly, fuming irritably as the boy chuckled,
"My girlfriend no doubt, after all, you're a Peverell tonight,"
"You're awful," Hermione hissed, accepting the hand he held out to her anyway,
"A dance then?"
"Anything to get me away from your mother. But let me change first, this dress, Regulus, isn't appropriate for dancing,"
The boy lifted a lip in an almost lustful manner as Hermione pulled her wand out of her ponytail and flicked it. This transfigured her dress into a simple black fan out, with glitter around the skirt and sequins up the bodice. It fell a bit lower then her knees, and she now had elbow length gloves covering up her 'traitor' scar as well as her poison marks. Her heels were now slippers, and allowed Hermione to walk without pain since arriving at the party,
"Better?" Regulus questioned, pulling Hermione closer to him as other young men in the room gave her hungry looks,
"Much. We'll dance, and then I'll sneak away for the night,"
"Fine,"
Hermione felt slightly nervous about dancing with Regulus, as she was unsure of the traditions of Black Family dancing. But once the music started - a half tango with a bit of waltz - Hermione's feet took over for her,
'I must have been trained as a kid,' Hermione thought, spinning gracefully around Regulus before dipping backwards. For now she ignored the hand grasping the underside of her thigh and leaned back into her partner, letting her eyes dart about the room as he pulled her back against his chest. A ring had formed and everyone was watching them, including a tell-tale head of platinum blonde hair,
'Lucius is here,' Hermione thought in half panic, turning to Regulus who let both hands rest on her waist,
"Not bad, cousin," He whispered softly, "I guess you really were paying attention during dance lessons,"
"Indeed," Hermione stated, falling towards the floor gracefully as the tip of her hand brushed the smooth tiles, "as long as you don't drop me,"
"That would ding my reputation as a dancer," he growled unhappily, finishing up the dance and stepping away from Hermione, bowing deeply. Curtseying in return as people clapped, she let Regulus bring her close to him as a figure approached,
"Well, well," Lucius drawled, lowering his silver mask, his storm eyes glinting as he ran them over Hermione's body. She immediately felt dirty under his gaze as Regulus stepped in front of her slightly, "you've been holding out on me, Black. I didn't know you had a girlfriend,"
"Best if you didn't know, Lucius. I didn't want to make a scene,"
"Well, I came to ask the young lady for a dance?"
Lucius held out a hand, and Hermione was almost in panic about having to take it. But Regulus stopped him,
"Unfortunately not, Emma and I are going to retreat somewhere more...private,"
Regulus let his own eyes roam over her as Hermione inwardly shivered. Was this normal as a pureblood witch? To be passed around from man to man like some kind of...of photograph? She immediately felt offended, but kept it off her face as Lucius smiled,
"You dog," he growled, "of course. Perhaps another time then, Lady Peverell?"
"Of course, Mr. Malfoy," Hermione croaked, allowing the man to take her hand and kiss it gently before pulling away. He had a look on his face which unnerved her, a mix of lustfullness and determination. What about Narcissa? Shaking her head, Hermione nodded to Lucius as Regulus led her quickly out of the ballroom and into the foyer,
"I'm going to shower for days," she complained slightly as they ascended the grand staircase, allowing their arms to drop from each other's as Hermione folded them against her chest, "how can you stand him?"
"Same way you stand that bunch of bumbling Gryffindors," Regulus stated, "the Locket is in this hallway, but I can't reveal anything else to you without compromising myself,"
"I understand," Hermione mumbled, glancing up and down the hall for anyone who may have been wandering about, "thank you for the dance,"
"Anything for my least favorite Cousin. Say hi to Sirius for me,"
Hermione twisted a lip as she nodded, watching the straight back of Regulus disappear around the corner. Sighing heavily, she turned back to the hallway,
"Quitz?"
There was a small crack as the elf appeared,
"Hello, missus,"
"I need your help locating another piece of bad magic. Can you keep a look out for me?"
The small creature nodded as Hermione leaned up against a nearby wall and focused her mind. She couldn't help but wince as her arm began to pulse as she listened for the distant hissing of parseltongue. Finally, the chilling noise reached her ears and she began to move. Following the wall with her hands, the voice kept getting louder, and Hermione's arm burned,
"Quitz it's here,"
"I shall watch the door missus," Quitz said, nodding his head happily as Hermione smiled too and entered the room she had stopped. It was completely dark with no furniture inside, and there was a small illuminated pedestal in the middle of the space. On the floor was a circle of carved runes,
"This is too easy," Hermione mumbled, closing the door but jumping as it vanished once locked. Clenching her teeth and throwing her mask aside, Hermione blinked rapidly to get a better look at the floor. She didn't recognize any of the markings except a few. "Cursed" "Protect" "Black" "Blood" and "Pain"
'This is a trap of some kind, that or an ancient type of protection charm,' Hermione thought to herself, staying outside the circle as she was positive there was a curse surrounding it, 'I have to solve this. I don't have time to wonder,'
Eyes scanning the carvings, she finally stopped on the north facing side of the runes. There was a small dent in the floor, perfect size to fit a hand,
'Of course. This is a blood ward,' Hermione thought, kneeling down and hesitating, 'I'm of Black family blood. Guess this is just one more scar,'
Hermione felt bad for her right arm which seemed ready to fall off and set her hand down in the imprint. The pain was immense as invisible razorblades chomped down on her skin in a similar manner to a bear trap. Unable to lift it as the cuts opened and began to ooze, blood filled the carvings around the indent and moved towards the pedestal. Crying out slightly as the red vanished, there was a pulse of magic as the wards lowered and released her hand. Groaning and holding it close to her chest, Hermione whipped around as she door to the room was slammed open,
"Traitor! Traitor!" Walburga cried, many Death Eaters and party goers filling the room as Hermione cursed and jumped for the locket. Upon touching it, there was a tugging around her navel as she vanished into the air, slamming into the ground harshly and skidding across what felt like a forest floor. Groaning and wincing, Hermione clutched the bloody locket in her hand. Laying still for a moment to collect herself, the witch exhaled heavily and searched for her wand which had slipped from her bun during the fall. Clutching it, with her bad hand, Hermione cursed everything in existence as she sat up slightly and glanced around.
She had landed in a clearing, the dark navy sky sprawled above her in a massive sparkling sheet,
'This looks like the forbidden forest,' Hermione wondered, using a few simple healing charms to fix up the ankle she twisted on impact, and to clean up her bloody hand. She almost wished she still had the bandages on, just to hide how horrible that arm looked, 'That probably means I'm not far from Hogwarts. At least I'm not wearing heels anymore,'
Sighing heavily Hermione got to her feet, flexing her hand which she wiped on her dress. If only she could just transfigure it into something more comfortable. Rolling her eyes at her own lack of experience in home charms, Hermione began her trek back to the castle. It was long and tedious, and she was practically heaving by the time she got back. But as first light began to dawn, Hermione sat down on the front steps of the castle as she looked out at the forest. Regulus was probably dead or in hiding now, he wouldn't be foolish enough to return to Hogwarts,
"Mione?"
Turning slightly at the disruption, the exhausted witch whipped around. Lupin looked crippled, and was leaning against the form of a large black dog - Sirius - using him as a crutch, "you look horrible,"
"As do you, Moony,"
There was a weak chuckle from the Werewolf as he made his way towards her, ignoring the small yelp of protest from his K-9 companion. Practically falling next to his girlfriend, Remus placed a hand on her knee - his knuckles were bleeding profusely. Lifting a brow, Hermione placed her own matching hand over his, wrapping the opposite arm around Sirius who had come to lay down by her thigh,
"We both had bad nights I'm guessing?" Remus questioned, watching as Hermione brought the locket out and placed it in her lap, "that's one of them?"
"...yeah...R-Regulus..."
Choking up slightly, Hermione felt Sirius change into a person again, laying stomach down on the stones as the sun began to rise up over the trees,
"He's gone, isn't he?"
Sirius sounded hurt as Hermione sucked in her lower lip and nodded. She knew this confrontation was going to have to happen, she just didn't want it to be so soon,
"I'm sorry Sirius. He knew once he betrayed Voldemort, living would be...impossible..."
"He did a good thing," Sirius mumbled, allowing Hermione to run mindless fingers through his obsidian curls as she supported the drooping weight of Remus on her other shoulder, "maybe he wasn't such a prat after all. What happened last night?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story," Hermione mumbled, sighing deeply as she began to recall events as they happened. Eventually, all three were fast asleep on the steps, huddled together and sharing their grief as the light of the sun poured down on them. For others, a new day was beginning, but for Hermione, Remus and Sirius, another horrible night had only just ended.